Anderson meets Fuller's $1,000 challenge for mountain lion

Four months ago, Sen. Jean Fuller extended an offer: Match her donation of $1,000 to the Maturango Museum's “Feed the Kitty” fund to pay for the museum's recently-acquired mountain lion display, and that person would spend a day with her in Sacramento.

Comment

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Feb. 16, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Updated Feb 18, 2013 at 8:19 AM

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Feb. 16, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Updated Feb 18, 2013 at 8:19 AM

Four months ago, Sen. Jean Fuller extended an offer: Match her donation of $1,000 to the Maturango Museum's "Feed the Kitty" fund to pay for the museum's recently-acquired mountain lion display, and that person would spend a day with her in Sacramento.

According to Sen. Fuller's office, two donations were recently and one of two contributors recently completed a day with the state senator.

Matthew Anderson contributed $1,000 to go to maintaining the mountain lion, a signature display for the Maturango Museum, according to Harris Brokke, the museum's executive director.

"I'm very happy Matthew got to spend a day with Sen. Fuller in Sacramento," Brokke said. "The Museum thanks him for matching her donation."

The mountain lion exhibit had a long journey from a carcass found in the middle of the road to being debuted on the Museum's 50th anniversary last year.

It took two years and a large hurdle for Sen. Fuller to push legislation through the state legislature to amend parts of California's law prohibiting the stuffing or otherwise altering the bodies of mountain lions.

The vote required a 4/5ths vote by the state senate, a nearly impossible task that earned a quirky, off-handed compliment from Gov. Jerry Brown when he signed Fuller's bill into law.

Anderson said it was an opportunity he couldn't pass over

"Since I'm a member of the China Lake Alliance and one of the things we do is represent the interests of the navy base, I thought I don't want to miss a chance to spend time with one of our very important persons," he said.

Anderson indicated that there were staff members that were in contact with the China Lake Alliance on a regular basis.

Anderson said the senator's office put together a detailed agenda that allowed him to spend time in the state senate gallery, committee meetings, and VIP tours.

"She had lunch with me and we got to know each other a little bit," Anderson said.

Anderson also attended a Energies, Utilities and Communications committee hearing, in which Fuller serves as vice chair, as well as met with staff from both Fuller's and Gov. Jerry Brown's office that handled trying to preserve California's military bases.

He said he was impressed with Fuller's staff, especially the younger generation that included a Senate Fellow he described as a "bright young lady," referring to Senate Fellow Jessica LaMaack.

"It was amazing how much she knew about all the people she knew and how the system works," Anderson said. "So it gives you a good feeling the next generation of people that will take over operating our democracy are bright and dedicated and special.”

Anderson said the Maturango Museum was also well represented when his wife, museum art gallery director Andrea Pelch, made the rounds in Sacramento's art circles.

Page 2 of 2 - "While I was trampling around the Capitol, she was meeting with other artists to recruit them to come to the Maturango Museum and participate in shows," he said.

Sen. Fuller commended Anderson for his involvement in the community.

"Matthew is a great example of someone who is very involved in his community,” Fuller said. “I couldn't be more impressed at his contribution to the Museum. It was really my honor to introduce him on the Senate Floor.”

Sen. Fuller had introduced Anderson on the Senate Floor, recognizing him for his donation to the Maturango Museum and his background.

Overall, Anderson said his time was well spent and the opportunity wonderful.

"Sen. Fuller is a very effective senator and I think Ridgecrest is luck to have her as our representative in Sacramento," Anderson said.